Student Aid Resources

Thank you for your interest in financial aid and/or scholarships for your education. Although my office does not directly provide any student aid or grant money, I hope that the information below is useful to you. 

Maryland-specific Resources:

The State of Maryland offers residents a variety of scholarships, loans and tuition exemptions.
  • Legislative scholarships are available through your state senator and delegates.
  • To find out who your state senator/delegates are and how to apply, visit http://www.mdelect.net. I encourage you to contact your local elected officials directly for information about their scholarships.
  • Search your Internet browser under terms such as student financial aid or assistance AND Maryland.
Colleges and universities provide 20% of aid, most need-based. Check university Web sites and the institution's financial aid office when you apply for admission.
 
Private foundations, corporations and organizations offer scholarships or grants:
 
Study Abroad: Financial Assistance
  • In addition to using International Financial Aid for study abroad funding opportunities, you may also wish to refer to your school’s financial aid page to see available types of aid.
  • Information on Maryland universities and their study abroad programs can be found here:

Although my office is not able to award scholarship funding, we can send you a financial aid and scholarship resource packet. If you would like one, please contact my office at (301) 545-1500.

Financial Aid for Students

Guides students through the process of locating and applying for financial aid.  Prepared by the Congressional Research Service for the U.S. Senate, updated February 2014.

Getting started

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Student aid and where it comes from

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Basic assistance categories:

  • Financial need-based
    Remember that students and their parents are responsible for paying what they can-- financial aid is a supplement, not a substitute, for family resources.
  • Non need-based
    Factors include academic excellence, ethnic background, or organization membership. Corporations may also offer assistance to employees and children.
Federal Student Aid:States offer residents a variety of scholarships, loans, and tuition exemptions.

Colleges and universities provide some 20% of aid, most need-based. Check university Web sites and the institution's financial aid office when you apply for admission.

Private foundations, corporations, and organizations offer scholarships or grants:
FastWeb
Free Scholarship Search
Grants for Individuals

Targeted aid for special groups

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Interested in public service?

Federal assistance programs seek to encourage people to work in geographic areas or professions where there's a particular need (such as doctors in underserved areas); encourage underrepresented groups to enter a particular profession; and provide aid in exchange for services provided (such as military service).

Aid for private K-12 education: No direct federal assistance, check with schools themselves:

Repaying your loans

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After college, the federal government has ways to help you repay your loans.

Merete F.Gerli, CRS